Emirates cancels order for 10 Airbus A340 planes (AFP)

21 posted on 10/27/2006 7:52:33 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative

To: Paleo Conservative

More 777-300ER's

Nice.

22 posted on 10/27/2006 7:55:18 PM PDT by Jorge

"The A340-600 is one huge airplane...it's weird proportionally because it's so darn long. It looks longer than a 747-400, but I don't know that it is, that may be an illusion of the rounder single-deck fuselage."

The A-340 is one of the prettiest planes in the sky. But, as a four-engine jet, it simply can't compete with the twinjet 777.

23 posted on 10/27/2006 8:55:56 PM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast

I don't know how long the A-340 is, but, the 747-400 is about 235 feet... I think, the 777LR is actually longer than the 747-400.. not sure about that.
But, once Boeing lengthens the 747-8I to the freighter length, it will be longer than the 777LR.

24 posted on 10/27/2006 9:20:37 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)

To: razorback-bert

No, it's a painting. I couldn't find good photos of the Emirates A340-600's to post.

25 posted on 10/27/2006 9:29:02 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative

To: Paleo Conservative

In fact, at the rate things are going at Airbus, I wouldn't be surprised that Emirates Airways looks at a potentially huge order for the 777-200LR, 777-300ER and 747-8I.

26 posted on 10/27/2006 9:39:41 PM PDT by RayChuang88

In fact, at the rate things are going at Airbus, I wouldn't be surprised that Emirates Airways looks at a potentially huge order for the 777-200LR, 777-300ER and 747-8I.

I was wondering about th 747-8I. Would it be possible to resculpt the interior space similar to the proposals for the original A350? Airbus had been talking about being able to get more interior cabin width by using new insulation materials in the cabin walls to get a wider interior cabin with without affecting the exterior dimensions of the fuselage cross section. Every inch of cabin width gained could add 0.1 inches of width to each seat in economy class. If five inches could be reclaimed, a 747-8I could have full 18 inch wide seats in economy class at the standard ten abreast configuration.

27 posted on 10/27/2006 9:50:22 PM PDT by Paleo Conservative

To: Paleo Conservative

It's amazing how you kmow all this stuff.

28 posted on 10/27/2006 10:25:11 PM PDT by phantomworker ("I had an epiphany.")

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

The A-340 is one of the prettiest planes in the sky.

Agree. I see alot of them at Frankfurt International and can't stop looking at them.

29 posted on 10/27/2006 11:41:27 PM PDT by Gamecock (The GRPL: Because life is too short for bad Theology*)

To: Paleo Conservative

An interesting comparison : the french with their airbus couldn't compete with AMERICAN aircraft technology/expertise anymore than the russians could with their buran space shuttle vs our space shuttle. We also win more olympic medals per population...take THAT you dem-america haters...

30 posted on 10/27/2006 11:52:26 PM PDT by timer

"Agree. I see alot of them at Frankfurt International and can't stop looking at them."

I fly through FRA all the time. A zoo of an airport, but there are worse (Toronto!). And it's great for plane-watching-- there are carriers from all over, and planes you don't see in North America (including not a few antiques that are probably too un-airworthy to make it here!)

The A340s are nice on the inside too! Smooth and well-finished. And so far the tails have stayed on. ;-)

A little over a year ago I was returning from Cyprus via FRA and our terminal transport bus paused on the taxiway to let a plane taxi onto the adjacent runway, rev up and take off: the prototype A380, ending its first visit to FRA. Huge mofo. I stood there like an idiot watching it go by, forgetting the camera-equipped cell phone in my pocket. It's about 20% too short for its proportions. It has the stubby, unsvelte look of a 737, with the squinty windshield looking like little piggy eyes. A plane only its mother could love. The main impression: porcine, and they must've been having a sale on wheels when they designed the thing, and its tail seems twice as big as it needs to be. The Andrea Zworkin of the skies. In the beauty department, the sleek A340 gets no competition from it!

The best bird in the sky from a passenger's standpoint, overall, is the 777, IMHO, though "upstairs" in the 747 remains the finest passenger experience if you're lucky enough to get a seat up there.

Speaking of interesting planes, check out the odd little swellings at the back of the El Al jets as you taxi past. Those aren't original equipment... ;-)

31 posted on 10/28/2006 9:51:30 AM PDT by RightOnTheLeftCoast

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

Interesting post. Thanks!

32 posted on 10/28/2006 10:22:57 AM PDT by phantomworker ("I had an epiphany.")

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

FRA is indeed a zoo! But you are right about plane watching.

I haven't seen an El Al there yet. Thanks for the tip, I'll watch closer next time.

33 posted on 10/28/2006 10:28:12 AM PDT by Gamecock (The GRPL: Because life is too short for bad Theology*)

To: RightOnTheLeftCoast

"The A-340 is one of the prettiest planes in the sky."

I am partial to the 767-300. I think that airplane is the most beautiful airliner around.

I spent about 45 minutes on the cargo tarmac of an airport watching a 767-300 freighter being loaded. It was the first time I got to walk around a 767 at ground level.

The 767-300 has near perfect proportions, and with its "upside down egg" shaped fuselage, is unmistakably Boeing.

I really think the soul of the 707 lives on the 767.

34 posted on 10/28/2006 2:57:32 PM PDT by magellan

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